Android is one system but three separate use cases. IPTV on a phone is mainly for watching on the move, at work, in short bursts. A tablet plays the role of a second screen at home. A TV box, meanwhile, turns an old television into a fully functional Smart TV and becomes the main screen for daily use. The choice of app changes with these three too.
The good news is that the subscription is the same on all three. To move a subscription you tested and liked on a phone over to a box later, no new payment is needed.
Which app to choose
Three apps do well on Android. Each has its own strength and the choice depends on the device.
IPTV Smarters Pro
The most universal option: it works on phones, tablets and boxes. Live channels, the films and series archive and the programme guide are all in one interface. If this is your first time setting up IPTV, we recommend starting here.
TiviMate
Built for remote control use, so it is the more comfortable choice on a TV box. The programme guide is tidy and you can arrange channel groups however you like. Some of its features open in the paid version.
XCIPTV
Lighter and simpler. If the other two feel heavy on a phone with little memory or on an older box, this option works.
Some Android players offer features behind a one-off or yearly fee. That payment goes to the app's owner and is not included in the price of our subscription. If you would rather not pay it, the free features are entirely enough for watching live channels.
Installing from Google Play
This is the simplest route and it works without trouble on most devices.
- Open the Google Play Store and type the name of the app.
- Install it and open it. The first screen asks for a login method — choose Xtream Codes API (or Login with Xtream Codes).
- Enter the username, password and server address we send you. Copying and pasting all three from WhatsApp is the safest method — when typed by hand, one wrong letter blocks the login.
- The channel list loads. The categories — Azerbaijani, Turkish, sport, films, kids and the rest — are the same as those written in the channel list.
Installing with an APK (TV boxes and some tablets)
On some TV box models Google Play is either missing or shows an old version of the app. In those cases the app is installed as an APK file.
- In the device settings, grant the Security → Unknown sources (or Install unknown apps) permission. On Android 8 and later this permission is granted per app — to the browser or the file manager, for example.
- Download the APK version that matches your device's processor. Modern boxes and phones want the arm64 version, very old models the armeabi-v7a one. The wrong version either won't install or closes as soon as it opens.
- Tap the APK in the file manager and install it.
- Once the installation is done, turn the “Unknown sources” permission back off — it is better for the device's security.
Random sites in search results carry APKs with the same name but with adverts and trackers planted inside them. We show you which source is the right one on WhatsApp. If you would rather not do the installation yourself, we do it together remotely — it is five minutes of work.
Choosing an Android TV box
If you have decided to buy a box, a few figures settle the problems you would otherwise live with later. Devices of very different quality are sold at the same price.
| Specification | Minimum | For comfortable use |
|---|---|---|
| RAM | 2 GB | 4 GB |
| Internal storage | 8 GB | 16–32 GB |
| Android version | Android 9 | Android 11 or later |
| Network | Wi-Fi 5 GHz | A LAN port (Ethernet) |
| Video output | HDMI 1.4 | HDMI 2.0 or later (for 4K) |
- Stay away from boxes with 1 GB of RAM. They are cheap, but the wait when changing channel gets longer and they freeze on 4K streams.
- Choose a model with a LAN port. A cable connection is always steadier than Wi-Fi — especially if you will be watching 4K.
- On boxes with the official Android TV system, Google Play works fully; on unbranded “TV boxes” you need to install with an APK.
- If you are planning on 4K, check the box's HEVC (H.265) hardware support — we wrote about that at length on the 4K page.
Sending the phone screen to a television
If you would rather not buy a box, the picture on your phone can be sent to the television. There are three routes and each has its own limitation.
| Method | What you need | Limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Chromecast / Google Cast | A television with Cast support or a Chromecast device | 1–2 seconds of latency, the phone battery drains quickly |
| Miracast / Screen Mirroring | An Android television with Miracast support | The picture breaks up when the network is busy |
| USB-C → HDMI cable | A phone that supports video output, and a cable | The steadiest method, but the phone stays tethered to the cable |
In practice, for live broadcasts such as football the cable method is the steadiest. For watching the occasional film, Cast is enough. If you are going to watch every day, a box is both more comfortable and a longer-term answer — and it leaves your phone free.
Problems specific to Android and their fixes
| Problem | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| The app closes in the background | Battery optimisation stops the app | Settings → Battery → set the app to “Unrestricted” |
| The picture freezes while the sound continues | The decoder isn't suitable | In the player settings try “Hardware” → “Hardware+” → “Software” in that order |
| The APK won't install | The processor architecture doesn't match | Check the arm64 and armeabi-v7a versions |
| Some channels won't open | The built-in player can't read the format | Set MX Player as the external player |
| Changing channel is very slow | Not enough RAM, a full cache | Close the apps open in the background and clear the app's cache |
| It cuts out on mobile internet | The speed or the signal is weak | Switch to Wi-Fi; on a mobile network choose HD quality |
IPTV works over 4G, but bear two things in mind: the signal strength changes as you move around, and the data use is high. An hour of Full HD viewing uses roughly as much data as downloading a film. If you are watching on a capped plan, choosing HD quality in the app is advisable.
Subscription, price and number of devices
There is no separate rate for an Android device. A phone, a tablet and a box work on the same subscription; only the number of screens open at the same time affects the price.
| Devices | Price per month | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| 1 device | 13 AZN | A single viewer |
| 2 devices | 18 AZN | A family — two screens |
| 3 devices+ | 22 AZN | Large family, office, café |
If you watch on the phone and then switch to the television — that is, use them in turn — a standard subscription is enough. If you need two screens at the same time, look at the multi-device plan. All the plans: prices.
Phone, tablet or box — write which device you want it set up on. We install the app together and open the channels.
Frequently asked questions
Which IPTV app is best on Android?
There is no single answer, it depends on the device. On phones and tablets IPTV Smarters Pro is the most comfortable — live channels, films and series and the guide are all in one place.
On a TV box TiviMate is better, because it is controlled with a remote. On devices with little memory XCIPTV runs more lightly. Tell us your device and we'll pick the right one.
Is installing an APK safe?
Yes, when the source is right. The risk is not in the app but in where you download the file from — sites in search results carry files with the same name and adverts planted inside.
We show you which source is the right one. We also recommend turning the “Unknown sources” permission back off after the installation.
Should I buy a TV box, or is a Smart TV enough?
If your television is a Samsung, LG or Android TV released after 2016, you don't need a box — the app runs on the television itself. The guide: Smart TV page.
If the television is old or the app store is empty, a box is the most economical answer. Choose a model with at least 2 GB of RAM and a LAN port.
Does IPTV work on mobile internet (4G)?
It does. HD needs 8–10 Mbps and Full HD 12–15 Mbps, and modern 4G networks usually have that.
There are two issues: the signal varies from place to place, so there can be interruptions while you are moving; and the data use is high. On a capped plan, choosing HD quality is more comfortable.
Can I use the subscription I opened on a phone on a television too?
Yes. The subscription is not tied to a device — you can install the app on as many devices as you like with the same details. The limit is only on the number of screens open at the same time.
If you use them in turn — closing it on the phone and opening it on the television — the standard 13 AZN subscription is enough and no extra setup fee is charged. If you need two screens at once, the 2-device rate is 18 AZN a month; more: multi-device subscription.
The app closes straight away when I open it — why?
There are two typical causes. First: the APK's processor version doesn't match — a version other than arm64 has been installed. Second: the device is short of memory, especially on boxes with 1 GB of RAM.
Close the apps open in the background, clear the app's cache and restart the device. If it continues, we switch you to a lighter player — XCIPTV.
Why is changing channel slow on Android?
Every time you change channel the player opens a new stream and builds up a few seconds of buffer. How long that takes depends on the device's power and the network's latency.
On a box, a LAN cable shortens the wait noticeably. Reducing the number of channel groups in TiviMate and increasing the cache size also help.